Lives in Cricket No 8 - Ernest Hayes

Chapter Nine Leicestershire The years teach much which the days never know R.W.Emerson, Experience 1924 Five years after playing the last of his first-class cricket for Surrey, Hayes returned to the county scene by applying successfully for the position of coach to Leicestershire County Cricket Club. The club had decided, in the winter of 1923/24, to appoint a coach with special responsibility for the first eleven, and bring on new players through membership of the Minor Counties competition. The local newspaper ran a profile welcoming him and summarising the principal achievements of his career. He was back in his natural element and enthusiastic about the appointment and his new responsibilities: Although I had enjoyed being at Winchester as coach it was very nice for me again to be among first class cricketers & I enjoyed meeting old friends, who came with the County teams to play Leicestershire. I made good progress in bringing on the young players of the Leicestershire staff and hope to make great players of Barry, Shipman and Coulson. The cricket grounds of the county are very bad & it is difficult to find likely players. Did not get a lot of batting myself in matches as I captained the Club and Ground team and went in last. When I did I was in quite good form – got 60* v Leicestershire Depôt & 100 for Oakham XI versus Notts Amateurs. Although formal coaching qualifications were some way in the future, there can be no doubt that Hayes was well-equipped to do the job. Towards the end of the war, he had given The 99